Friday, September 29, 2017

Well, I'm Excited (Legend of Five Rings Open Beta)

If you didn't get the news earlier this week, follow this link and read the announcement. FFG is dropping the Open Beta of their next Legend of Five Rings product, and it is the RPG. I haven't seen any word as to what system is powering the game but most people seem to be expecting the narrative dice system that FFG produced for Star Wars and is using for their universal system Genisys. The reasons people think this stem from FFG liking the dice sales (and dice profits are likely much better than book profits) but also, if you're putting out a universal system why would you release a game that wasn't compatable with it? Especially when the system is very well received.

Personally, I'm looking forward to the drop regardless. L5R has been a huge part of my gaming career and my development as both a GM and a Player. If the system isn't to my tastes, it wouldn't be the first time I've strongly disagreed with a game designer for a world/game I love. That said, I doubt it will be bad. I like FFG's systems. I think their behavioral mechanics (the Squad system in Deathwatch, Obligation/Duty/Morality in Star Wars, etc) has fallen short of my preferences and expectations, but never so badly that I couldn't see what they were going for and make them work for me with slight tweaking. And it is unreasonable to expect every aspect of a system to appeal to everyone anyhow.

Either way, I'll be reading when this system drops. I'm also likely going to try to get some GM time in with it. If it's just Genisys: L5R that's ok. I'm curious how they'll do schools and reflect the culture of Rokugan in the mechanics all the same. I'm also intrigued by the concept of the Self vs. Duty as a core struggle for every character.

1 comment:

Completely agree A.L. I'm looking forward to seeing what FFG does with it, and I'm hoping to participate in the open beta. If it doesn't work for me, 4e is a great complete edition that remains ready to go.

About Me

I write tales. I run games. I analyze characters. I'm a story enthusiast no matter the medium, and spend far too much time breaking down the hows, whys, and mechanic & actions that let the real stories flow out.